Medical Head-Cooling Cap Set

ABSTRACT

Afforded is a medical head-cooling cap set that heightens scalp-cooling efficiency and that fitted on to a user&#39;s head produces no pressuring feeling nor slips out of place. The cap set is constituted from a head-cooling cap, an inner cap, and an outer cap. Two first belts that are drawn out from either side of the outer-cap opening part and stretch to the exterior are linkable by a first fastener, and after the head has been passed into the opening and the outer cap has been donned, the belts can be fastened neck-area-forward by the fastener; meanwhile, two second belts that extend from alongside the rear part mid-brim and head front brim-ward are linkable by a second clasp, and after the head has been passed into the opening and the outer cap has been donned, the second belts can be fastened around the forehead by the clasp.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a head-cooling cap set—namely, amedical head-cooling cap set constituted by three items, an inner cap, ahead-cooling cap, and an outer cap—which is utilized when the scalp isto be cooled in cancer treatment.

BACKGROUND ART

Chemotherapies used in cancer treatment are often accompanied by hairloss, wherein patients' psychological distress and other significantlowering of quality-of-life has been a problem. It is known that suchhair loss can be prevented or suppressed by maintaining the scalp at alow temperature to keep the hair roots from absorbing the therapeuticdrugs for chemotherapy. For this reason, a head cooling device directedto preventing hair loss due to chemotherapy has been proposed (referenceis made to Patent Document 1). With head cooling devices of this kind, acooling-medium flow path is formed inside a helmet-shaped component thatis fitted onto a user's head, and the cooling medium is made tocirculate within the cooling-medium flow path to cool the scalp by heatexchange between the scalp and the cooling medium.

The helmet-shaped component that is fitted onto the head of the user isoften manufactured by molding from a synthetic resin such as a siliconerubber. Although silicone rubbers have a certain degree of flexibility,since the shape and size of users' heads vary, it is difficult to getthe helmet-shaped component to fit snugly over the entire head. Sincethe inside surface of the helmet-shaped member functions as aheat-exchange surface, if a gap arises between the user's scalp and theinside surface of the helmet-shaped component and the scalp, a portionof the scalp loses contact with the inside surface of the helmet-shapedcomponent, leading to problems of the cooling of the scalp becominguneven or the cooling efficiency deteriorating. As a method of reducinggaps of this sort, fitting an inner element made of a flexible materialbetween the scalp and the helmet-shaped component in order to facilitateconforming it to the shape and size of a user's head has been carriedout.

As explained above, a general head cooling device that is put on inorder to cool the scalp of a cancer patient is made up of a head-coolingcap, and an inner element worn between the head-cooling cap and thescalp. Here, in order to effectively prevent hair loss on the scalp ofcancer patients, the snugness of the fit of the inner element on thescalp becomes an issue. That being the case, the fact that the shape andsize of the user's head are theirs individually compels having tocustom-make the inner element, which drives up the price of the innerelement and has given rise to the problem of a greater burden on thepatient.

What is more, during prolonged wear silicone-rubber helmets throughwhich cooling fluid flows often come to the brink of slipping off,wherein if the helmet gets out of place the cooling effect will bediminished. A cooling helmet that is a commercially available product isdevised with a clasp, and with a belt fixes the user's chin and aportion of the helmet opening so as to prevent the helmet from shifting.With a fixing scheme of this sort, however, the snugness of the fit ofthe helmet onto the scalp cannot be ensured.

PRECEDENT TECHNICAL LITERATURE Patent Document(s)

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 5,133,355

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Issues Invention is to Address

Therein, in view of these sorts of problems, an issue for the presentinvention is to afford a medical head-cooling cap set that isconstituted from three items being a head-cooling cap for cooling auser's head, an inner cap that fits on the inner side of thehead-cooling cap, and a securing-gear-attached outer cap that is forsecuring, and that fits on the outer side of, the head-cooling cap, andthat fitted on produces no pressuring feeling nor slips out of place.

Means for Resolving Issues

For solving the above-stated problems, a medical head-cooling cap setinvolving the present invention is constituted from three items being ahead-cooling cap for cooling a user's head, an inner cap that fits onthe inner side of the head-cooling cap, and a securing-gear-attachedouter cap that is for securing, and that fits on the outer side of, thehead-cooling cap, characterized in that:

a cooling-medium flow path is formed in the interior of the head-coolingcap, the scalp being cooled by the circulating of a cooling medium inthe cooling-medium flow path;

the inner cap is made from a fabric component formed so as to cover aperson's head, and is constituted from a main part furnished with afrontal region that covers the forehead including the brow, an occipitalregion that covers the occiput, and a nape region that covers the nape,and from a left temporal element and a right temporal element, connectedto the main part, and further in a rear edge of each element of the lefttemporal element and the right temporal element connected to the mainpart a finlike protrusion is formed, and between the finlike protrusionsand the nape region a slit is formed.

The cap set is characterized in that two first belts that are drawn outfrom either side of the outer-cap opening part and stretch to theexterior are linkable by a first fastener, and after the head has beenpassed into the opening and the outer cap has been donned, the belts canbe fastened neck-area-forward by means of the fastener; and meanwhile,two second belts that extend from alongside the rear part mid-brim andhead front brim-ward are linkable by a second clasp, and after the headhas been passed into the opening and the outer cap has been donned, thesecond belts can be fastened around the forehead by the clasp.

Here, the inner cap may be made furnished with a handle on an edge partof its frontal region.

Further, constituting the outer cap by a foam-rubber elastic element,and a fiber-layer-containing elastic material disposed on obverse andreverse sides of the foam-rubber elastic element is optimal. Here,making the raw-material component of the foam-rubber elastic elementconsist of polychloroprene or neoprene (registered trademark) is furtheradvantageous.

Also, a method, involving the present invention, of using a medicalhead-cooling cap set is characterized in: soaking in water, lightlywringing out, and fitting onto a user's head an inner cap; next, puttingonto the inner cap a head-cooling cap for cooling the user's head; andfurther, putting onto the head-cooling cap a securing-gear-attachedouter cap, and linking and securing at the neck area of the user twofirst belts that are drawn out from either side of the outer-cap openingpart and stretch to the exterior, and meanwhile, linking and bindingtight around the forehead by means of a second clasp two second beltsthat extend from alongside the rear part mid-brim and head frontbrim-ward of the outer-cap; whereby displacement of the head-cooling capis prevented and gaps between the head-cooling cap and the scalp aredecreased, improving the cooling effectiveness of the head-cooling cap.Here, wetting the user's hair prior to fitting the inner cap onto theuser is optimal.

Effects of Invention

A medical head-cooling cap set involving the invention, by preventingdisplacement of the head-cooling cap by means of a clasp on the outercap, is made easier for the user to put on; its inner cap not only has asuitable degree of heat-insulating effectiveness, but may be gotten atreasonable cost to the user; and its outer cap, by means of the clasp,makes it possible to prevent displacement of the head-cooling capFurther, adopting a foam-rubber elastic element, and afiber-layer-containing elastic material disposed on obverse and reversesides of the foam-rubber elastic element for the material of the outercap makes it possible to hold the head-cooling cap in place firmly, andto better prevent displacement of the head-cooling cap. Also, selectingfrom inner-cap sizes of several kinds makes it possible to adapt the capset to persons of differing head size, yielding a stabilized wearingcondition. Further, having cloth, nonwoven fabric, or the like be thematerial of the inner cap means that it is unlikely to degrade, and thatthe risk of it producing itching or rashes on the human body is minimal.Also, the inner cap may be made launder-and-reusable, or may be madedisposable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the configuration of a medicalhead-cooling cap set 1 involving the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a right-side diagram of an inner cap 100 involving the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a right-side diagram of a head-cooling cap 200 involving thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an outer cap 300 involving the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart representing a method of using a medicalhead-cooling cap set 1 involving the present invention.

MODE(S) FOR IMPLEMENTING INVENTION

In the following, based on the drawings, a detailed description ofembodiment examples of the present invention will be made. In eachfigure, identical parts are labeled with identical reference numbers,wherein reduplicating description will be omitted. Further, the drawingsin some instances are expressed exaggeratedly for the sake ofunderstanding the present invention, wherein it should be borne in mindthat they are not necessarily scaled-down, minute representations.Furthermore, the invention is not limited to the embodiment examplesillustrated below.

Embodiment Example 1

Embodiment Example 1 will be described in detail with reference to thedrawings.

Reference is made to FIG. 1 . The figure is a view illustrating theconfiguration of a medical head-cooling cap set 1.

Reference is made to FIG. 2 . FIG. 2 is a right-side view of the innercap 100 according to the present invention. The main part 101 includes afrontal region 111, an occipital region 112, and a nape region 113. Themain part 101 is sutured and made unitary with a left temporal piece 102(not represented in the figure) along a sewn section, and with a righttemporal piece 103 along a sewn section (indicated by dot-and-dashlines). It should be noted that the junctures between the main part 101,and the left temporal piece 102 and the right temporal piece 103 are notlimited to sutures. The respective members that are the left temporalpiece 102 and the right temporal piece 103 form finlike protrusions 120and 130 at the rear end, wherein slits are formed between the finlikeprotrusions 120 and 130 and the nape region 113.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 , the main part 101 may have a handle 104attached to its front end, that is, an edge part of the frontal region111. When a user In putting on the inner cap 100 and fits on thehead-cooling cap 200, the user can correct displacement of the inner cap100 by pulling the handle 104. Any article that allows its being grippedand pulled by a user is adequate for the handle 4; it may be an articlein the form of a loop, and it may be a tongue-flap article as well, sewnonto the front end of the frontal region 111.

Here, any fabric component that has a suitable degree of heat-insulatingeffectiveness is adequate to be utilized for the inner cap 100. That is,any material that may be processed into the form of the inner cap 100illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is adequate. For example, as the fabriccomponent, polyester or other chemical fiber is acceptable, whilecotton, nonwoven fabrics, paper, or as materials other than these, silk,or plastics, etc. that are like thin cloth, can be selected.

The right temporal piece 103 is sewn together with the main part 101 atthe upper end. The right temporal piece 103 has the finlike protrusion130 formed at the rear end, and the slit formed between the finlikeprotrusion 130 and the nape region 113. A slit of this sort makes itpossible to adapt the medical cap to persons of differing head sizes,yielding a stabilized wearing condition. The lower-end line of the righttemporal piece 103 may be concavely curved so as not to cover the ear.

The inner cap 100 of the present invention, since it has a suitabledegree of heat-insulating effectiveness, is ideal as an inner capspecialized for the head-cooling cap 200 for cooling the scalp, and whenthe inner cap 100 is put on and the head-cooling cap 200 is fitted overit, since it serves as a cushioning material between the head-coolingcap 200 and the scalp, it lends a comfortable fit to the user.

Reference is made to FIG. 3 . FIG. 3 is a right-side diagram of ahead-cooling cap 200 involving the present invention. The head-coolingcap 200 is provided with a first cooling-medium port 220 and a secondcooling-medium port 230, wherein respectively connected to the ports arelines 221 and 231 for supplying and discharging cooling medium.

In the head-cooling cap main part 201 of the head-cooling cap 200, acooling-medium flow path 210 extending between the first cooling mediumport 220 and the second cooling medium port 230 is formed, and isdisposed so that cooling medium supplied into the head-cooling cap mainpart 201 interior can circulate inside the cooling-medium flow path 210.The head-cooling cap 200 is cooled by cooling medium circulating in thecooling-medium flow path 210, and as a result, by heat exchange with thescalp of a user on whom the head-cooling cap 200 is fitted, the user'sscalp is cooled.

Reference is made to FIG. 4 . FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an outer cap300 involving the present invention. The outer cap 300 is fitted ontothe outer side of the head-cooling cap 200. The outer cap 200 is formedfrom a heat-insulating material such as urethane, and keeps thetemperature of the cooling medium inside the head-cooling cap 200 fromrising due to the influence of the external air temperature. The outercap 300 is put onto the head-cooling cap 200, and with the user's neckarea placed on a chin holder 311, is secured by coupling two first belts310 that are drawn out from either side of the opening part and extendto the exterior. Then second belts 320 that extend from alongside therear part mid-brim and head front brim-ward are linked with a secondclasp to bind them tight around the forehead. Doing that tightens thehead-cooling cap 200 against the scalp, thereby decreasing the gapbetween the head-cooling cap 200 and the scalp, improving the coolingeffectiveness, and further, demonstrating the advantage of preventingdisplacement of the head-cooling cap 200. If the head-cooling cap 200shifts out of place, areas along the head where cooling to the scalp isnot complete arise; consequently, it is necessary that displacement ofthe head-cooling cap be prevented to the utmost.

Here, as the material used for the outer cap a heat-insulating substancesuch as urethane is adequate, but a material that does not let body heatescape, that is, a material that may maintain thermo-retentiveproperties/heat-insulating properties, and that securely fits on thehead-cooling cap 200 and that has flexibility and elasticity ispreferable. For example, a foamable rubber material, such as neoprene(registered trademark) and polychloroprene, to the obverse and reversesides of which a woven or knitted fabric is affixed, or a materialconstituted by a base substance to which a textile is affixed ispreferable. There is little difficulty in obtaining these sorts ofmaterials, and from a cost perspective they are superior.

Embodiment Example 2

Embodiment Example 2 will be described in detail with reference to thedrawings. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of using a medicalhead-cooling cap set 1 involving the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 5 , an explanation of a method of using a medicalhead-cooling cap set involving the present invention will be made. Tobegin with, the inner cap 100 is soaked in water and lightly wrung out(S01), and then fitted on a user's head (S02). Here, before the innercap 100 is fitted on a user's head, it is recommendable to wet theuser's hair (S00); wetting it with a sprayer or the like about tillwater drips out is further recommendable. Also, when the inner cap 100is fitted on the user's head, in instances, for example, in which hairloss on the top of the head is conspicuous, placing gauze on the top ofthe head and then fitting on the inner cap 100 is recommendable.Further, in order that the head-cooling cap 200 not come into directcontact with the frontal region, ears, etc., it is recommendable tocover those places with gauze before fitting on the inner cap 100. Next,the head-cooling cap 200 for cooling the user's head (S03) is put ontothe inner cap 100. The head-cooling cap 200 is put so as not to be tothe front of the inner cap 100. This is because there is a risk of thescalp being frostbitten if the head-cooling cap 200 directly touches it.After the head-cooling cap 200 is fitted on the user, in order that thehead-cooling cap 200 be made snug against the head, it is recommendablethat the user him/herself or a caregiver press the head-cooling cap 200down. This is because poor snugness of fit dilutes the scalp-coolingeffectiveness. Then, the securing-gear-attached outer cap 300 is putonto the head-cooling cap 200 (S04). At this point, turning the outercap 300 inside out, aligning the forehead side with the user's brow, andsliding the left and right rear of the outer cap 300 along the user'shead is recommendable. There should be no gaps between the head-coolingcap 200 and the outer cap 300. Next, the two first belts that are drawnout from either side of the opening part and extend to the exterior arelinked and secured at the user's neck area, and the two second beltsthat extend from alongside the rear part mid-brim and head frontbrim-ward are linked by means of the second clasp and bound tight aroundthe forehead. Here, for a user with a large head size, it isrecommendable that the user him/herself or a caregiver press the outercap 300 down against the head. The presence of the outer cap 300prevents displacement of the head-cooling cap 200.

Embodiment Example 3

Embodiment Example 3 will be described with reference to the table.

The applicant in the present application conducted tests to ascertainthe effects of an outer cap involving the present invention. The testswere executed internally at Taiyou Industries Co., Ltd. (682Higashiyama, Sakai-shi Naka-ku, Osaka) head-office factory in SakaiCity, on Jan. 16, 2020.

Key points of implementation: With an inner cap, head-cooling cap, andouter cap involving the present invention fitted on a test subject, atemperature sensor was placed on the inner side of the inner cap (thepart in contact with scalp hair), and the temperature was measured withthe temperature sensor. On the other hand, measurement was made by saidtemperature sensor with the below-described, commercially availablehelmet fitted over a head-cooling cap involving the present invention,and was compared with the temperature in the instance in which the outercap involving the present invention had been fitted on. It should benoted that the outer cap is fitted with a chin pad, and straps fortightening against the sides. Here, the outer cap is composed from abase medium in which the foamable rubber material neoprene (registeredtrademark) is utilized as a raw-material component, and on its obverseand reverse sides a woven/knitted fabric is attached, or a textile isattached.

Measurement protocol: From the point in time at which the scalptemperature attained near fixity (after by and large a 10-minute lapsefrom the start of post-fitting cooling) (1) the scalp temperature wasmeasured for approximately 30 minutes with an outer cap involving thepresent invention having been fitted on. (2) The scalp temperature wasmeasured for approximately 30 minutes with the helmet, instead of theouter cap, having been fitted on. It is to be noted that with thetemperature measurements, the data was automatically logged (collected)every minute by means of a data logger. A table presenting thetemperatures and temperature differences for (1) and (2) is Table 1.

As presented in Table 1, it will be understood that with the outer capinvolving the present invention and the helmet, the temperatures inwhich the outer cap was fitted on was maintained low throughout theentirety. With the average temperature differences being 0.57° C. at thefrontal area and 1.51° C. at the right head area, the outer cap beingworn sustained lower than the helmet being worn.

From the foregoing results, it can be appreciated that with an outer capinvolving the present invention is the benefit that the effect ofcooling the scalp by means of the head-cooling cap is maintained.

-   Measurement date and time: Jan. 16, 2020, from around 13:00 to    around 15:00-   Room temperature: 26.9° C.-   Humidity: 21%-   Measurement location: Taiyou Industries Co., Ltd. (Sakai-shi, Osaka)-   Helmet    -   Sales agency: Midori Anzen Co., Ltd.    -   Model: light work cap SCL-100A    -   Product number: L100N White SCL100N-03G-3    -   Material: PE (Polyethylene)        It should be noted that the helmet was employed with the        chin-pad attachment removed so that it could be fitted on over        the head-cooling cap.-   Measurement points: 2 points, forehead area and right head area-   Thermometer used: Sato Shoji Inc., two TM-947SDs (one thermometer    has 4 channels)-   Sensor used: K thermocouple-   Time units: minutes

TABLE 1 ch1 ch4 Outer ch1 Outer ch4 Elapsed cap Helmet Differ- capHelmet Differ- time Front Front ence Right Right ence 0 16.6 16.8 −0.221.2 23.0 −1.8 1 16.5 16.7 −0.2 21.2 23.0 −1.8 2 16.3 16.7 −0.4 21.122.9 −1.8 3 16.1 16.8 −0.7 21.0 23.0 −2.0 4 16.1 17.0 −0.9 21.0 23.1−2.1 5 16.2 17.0 −0.8 21.1 23.2 −2.1 6 16.2 17.0 −0.8 21.2 23.3 −2.1 716.3 17.0 −0.7 21.2 23.2 −2.0 8 16.2 16.8 −0.6 21.3 23.1 −1.8 9 16.116.8 −0.7 21.3 22.9 −1.6 10 16.1 16.8 −0.7 21.3 22.9 −1.6 11 16.1 17.0−0.9 21.3 23.0 −1.7 12 16.2 17.1 −0.9 21.4 23.1 −1.7 13 16.3 17.1 −0.821.5 23.1 −1.6 14 16.4 17.0 −0.6 21.7 23.1 −1.4 15 16.4 16.8 −0.4 21.722.9 −1.2 16 16.3 16.8 −0.5 21.7 22.9 −1.2 17 16.3 16.7 −0.4 21.7 22.9−1.2 18 16.3 16.8 −0.5 21.7 22.9 −1.2 19 16.3 17.0 −0.7 21.8 23.0 −1.220 16.5 17.1 −0.6 21.9 23.1 −1.2 21 16.6 17.0 −0.4 21.9 23.1 −1.2 2216.6 17.0 −0.4 22.0 23.1 −1.1 23 16.6 16.9 −0.3 22.2 23.1 −0.9 24 16.616.9 −0.3 22.1 23.2 −1.1 25 16.4 16.9 −0.5 22.1 23.2 −1.1 26 16.4 17.0−0.6 22.0 23.2 −1.2 Average −0.57 −1.51

In the foregoing, preferred embodying modes in medical head-cooling capsets involving the present invention have been illustrated andexplained; however, it should be understood that a variety ofmodifications are possible without departing from the technical scope ofthe present invention.

INDUSTRIAL EXPLOITABILITY

A medical head-cooling cap set involving the present invention isbroadly exploitable not only in the medical arena, but also includingsituations in which cooling of the scalp is carried out at home, becausethe cap set is made easy for a user to wear by its preventing, by meansof the clasps on the outer cap, the head-cooling cap from shifting outof place, and because not only does the inner cap have a suitable degreeof heat-insulating effectiveness, it also may be acquired at anaffordable cost for the user.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE MARKS

-   -   1: Medical head-cooling cap set    -   100: Inner cap    -   101: Inner cap main part    -   111: Frontal region    -   112: Occipital region    -   113: Nape region    -   102: Left temporal piece    -   103: Right temporal piece    -   120, 130: Finlike protrusion    -   104: Handle    -   200: Head-cooling cap    -   201: Head-cooling cap main part    -   210: Cooling-medium flow path    -   220: First cooling medium port    -   230: Second cooling medium port    -   221: Pipe    -   231: Pipe    -   300: Outer cap    -   301: Outer cap main part    -   310: Chin belt    -   311: Chin holder    -   320: Forehead belt

1. A medical head-cooling cap set constituted from three items being ahead-cooling cap for cooling a user's head, an inner cap that fits onthe inner side of the head-cooling cap, and a securing-gear-attachedouter cap that is for securing, and that fits on the outer side of, thehead-cooling cap, characterized in that: a cooling-medium flow path isformed in the interior of the head-cooling cap, the scalp being cooledby the circulating of a cooling medium in the cooling-medium flow path;and the inner cap is made from a fabric component formed so as to covera person's head, and is constituted from a main part furnished with afrontal region that covers the forehead including the brow, an occipitalregion that covers the occiput, and a nape region that covers the nape,and a left temporal element and a right temporal element, connected tothe main part, and further in a rear edge of each element of the lefttemporal element and the right temporal element connected to the mainpart a finlike protrusion is formed, and between the finlike protrusionsand the nape region a slit is formed; wherein two first belts that aredrawn out from either side of the outer-cap opening part and stretch tothe exterior are linkable by a first fastener, and after the head hasbeen passed into the opening and the outer cap has been donned, thebelts can be fastened neck-area-forward by means of the fastener, andmeanwhile, two second belts that extend from alongside the rear partmid-brim and head front brim-ward are linkable by a second clasp, andafter the head has been passed into the opening and the outer cap hasbeen donned, the second belts can be fastened around the forehead bymeans of the clasp.
 2. The medical head-cooling cap set recited in claim1, characterized in that the inner cap is furnished with a handle on anedge part of said frontal region.
 3. The medical head-cooling cap setrecited in claim 1, characterized in that the outer cap is constitutedby a foam-rubber elastic element, and a fiber-layer-containing elasticmaterial disposed on obverse and reverse sides of the foam-rubberelastic element.
 4. The medical head-cooling cap set recited in claim 3,characterized in that the raw-material component of the foam-rubberelastic element consists of polychloroprene.
 5. A method of using amedical head-cooling cap set, characterized in: soaking in water,lightly wringing out, and fitting onto a user's head an inner cap; next,putting onto the inner cap a head-cooling cap for cooling the user'shead; and further, putting onto the head-cooling cap asecuring-gear-attached outer cap, and linking and securing at the neckarea of the user two first belts that are drawn out from either side ofthe outer-cap opening part and stretch to the exterior, and meanwhile,linking and binding tight around the forehead by means of a second clasptwo second belts that extend from alongside the rear part mid-brim andhead front-brim of the outer-cap; whereby displacement of thehead-cooling cap is prevented and gaps between the head-cooling cap andthe scalp are decreased, improving the cooling effectiveness of thehead-cooling cap.
 6. The medical head-cooling cap set use method recitedin claim 5, characterized in that prior to the inner cap being fittedonto the user, the user's hair is wetted.
 7. The medical head-coolingcap set recited in claim 2, characterized in that the outer cap isconstituted by a foam-rubber elastic element, and afiber-layer-containing elastic material disposed on obverse and reversesides of the foam-rubber elastic element.
 8. The medical head-coolingcap set recited in claim 7, characterized in that the raw-materialcomponent of the foam-rubber elastic element consists ofpolychloroprene.